I accidentally joined a group of charlatans, so I immediately called the police and handed it over t

Chen Xi's finger hovered above the avatar called "Wine Immortal".

The fingertips are only millimeters away from the screen, yet it feels like a battle between two worlds.

He didn't open it immediately.

He was examining it.

Like a seasoned hunter scrutinizing prey that has fallen into a trap, or a top-notch trader assessing a multi-billion dollar contract about to be signed.

The message sent by the wine connoisseur in the private chat interface revealed the persistence and shrewdness unique to gourmets, and could even conjure up an image of a red-nosed old Taoist scratching his head.

[The Wine Immortal]: Young friend, I observe that your Arhat tendons are bright red and brimming with fiery energy. Such a potent and yang substance, if paired with a pot of fine wine, would surely be an unparalleled enjoyment in heaven and earth.

[Wine Immortal]: I wonder if my young friend could spare me a stick? I would be willing to exchange it for my family's secret recipe for "Hundred Flowers Wine".

liqueur.

Chen Xi narrowed his eyes slightly, a glint of light flashing deep in his pupils.

In the context of Chinese culture, wine has never been just a beverage.

It is medicine, and it guides the medicinal effects.

It acts as a matchmaker, facilitating relationships and connections.

It is courage, the courage of a hero cutting off his own arm.

It is the soul, flowing for thousands of years.

For the current 001 base and for the Chinese army, which urgently needs to improve the quality of its individual soldiers, this is not just a glass of wine, but a key that may unlock the human gene pool.

"check."

He projected his phone screen onto the huge central screen, tapping the golden avatar in the air with his finger.

"I need all the information about this wine immortal. Not just myths and legends, but his personality profile, his taste preferences, and even his interpersonal relationships and potential vulnerabilities in Heaven."

"One minute."

Su Qingge immediately turned around, her white coat drawing a sharp arc in the air.

She gave instructions into the microphone, her voice as cold as a knife.

"Intelligence team, conduct a full-scale search of mythological literature across the internet."

"Psychology team, establish a personality model of the target person."

"Strategic Analysis Room, assessing the risk-reward ratio of transactions."

The entire think tank of Base 001 sprang into action instantly.

This is not a battle fought alone.

This is the entire state apparatus backing up a young man's "deception".

Countless ancient books, documents, and folk tales were devoured by the supercomputer and transformed into green data streams that cascaded down the screen like a waterfall.

The sound of keyboard tapping was so dense it resembled a sudden downpour.

Thirty seconds later.

An incredibly detailed profile of a person was displayed on the big screen.

"Target Analysis: Wine Master"

"Identity speculation: It is highly likely that he is a composite concept of the gods of wine such as Du Kang and Yi Di, or a righteous god in charge of the wine storehouse in the Heavenly Court."

"Core personality traits: Extremely fond of alcohol, with an almost pathological pursuit of the quality of alcohol. His personality appears to be bold and unrestrained, but in reality, he craves novelty and sensory stimulation due to the monotony of life in Heaven."

Weakness: Arrogance; he cannot tolerate others questioning his taste in wine.

"Potential value: We have mastered various recipes for immortal wines, and based on big data analysis, there is a 90% probability that they contain medicinal wine recipes that can strengthen the body or even stimulate potential."

As Li Guobang looked at the last line of text, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, which had seen countless vicissitudes of life.

"Medicated wine".

He chewed on those two words as if he were chewing on the bones of an enemy.

Zhao Tiezhu's success was astonishing; it was a miracle earned at the cost of his life, an irreplaceable feat.

The energy of the Marrow Cleansing Pill is too violent; it's like a nuclear bomb, not a conventional weapon.

If we could obtain a mild, mass-producible medicinal wine formula that could generally improve the physical condition of soldiers…

What does that mean?

This means that China's million-strong army will undergo a complete evolution!

That would be revolutionary for the entire army's combat effectiveness; it would be a game-changer!

"It's him."

Li Guobang made the final decision.

The old man's voice carried an undeniable resolve, a power born from fighting his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

"Chen Xi, at all costs, get his formula out of him."

"Even if it's just digging up vintage wines from the Forbidden City, I'll give you the approval!"

Chen Xi nodded.

He picked up his phone again, took a deep breath, and tried to separate his racing heart from the tense atmosphere.

When dealing with a connoisseur of this caliber, mere deception is not enough.

Gods aren't stupid; they've lived for thousands of years, what good things haven't they seen?

The strategy is to feign indifference to lure the enemy into a trap.

We need to curb his arrogance.

He needs to feel that if he can't drink this wine, all his thousands of years as an immortal have been for nothing.

Chen Xi tapped lightly on the screen, each word like a carefully polished bullet.

[Newcomer reporting in, seeking protection]: You're too kind, Immortal Master.

[Newcomer reporting in, seeking protection]: This Luohan tendon has an overpowering flavor, with extreme spiciness and freshness, embodying the fiery energy of heaven and earth.

[Newcomer reporting in, seeking protection]: Ordinary celestial brew is too mild and lacks potency. I'm afraid it won't be able to suppress the fiery nature of this Arhat tendon, and will instead ruin the immortal's fine wine and spoil the taste of this Arhat tendon.

Refuse.

Moreover, it was a rejection made from the other person's perspective, seemingly considerate and thoughtful.

This tactic is called "praise to death".

In the Heavenly Court, in a wine cellar shrouded in mist.

An old Taoist priest, his eyes still blurry with drunkenness, was lying listlessly on a cloud bed, clutching a large purple-gold gourd.

Upon seeing this reply, he sat up abruptly, his previously dazed old eyes widening instantly.

Ordinary celestial wine?

Unable to control your temper?

This is practically questioning his authority in the wine world! This is practically slapping his reputation as a wine connoisseur in the face!

He's been in Heaven for so many years, and even the Jade Emperor, when drunk, had to praise him as a "master of wine." How dare this greenhorn from the mortal realm be so arrogant?

[Wine Immortal]: My friend, you are mistaken! This Hundred Flowers Wine of mine is made from the essence of a hundred flowers, buried under the Jade Pool for a thousand years, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon. Its fragrance is irresistible and it melts in your mouth. How could it not surpass mere mortal food?

Hooked.

Anxious.

This is the effect Chen Xi wanted.

Once the other party starts to defend themselves and becomes eager to prove themselves, the initiative shifts to them.

In the command room, Chen Xi's lips curled up slightly, revealing a fox-like smile.

He didn't reply immediately, but instead left the other person waiting for more than ten seconds.

Those ten or so seconds were enough for the wine connoisseur's pride to ferment and swell.

[Newcomer reporting in, seeking protection]: Immortal, please calm your anger. The Hundred Flowers Wine is indeed excellent, a sacred product for health and longevity.

[Newcomer reporting in, seeking protection]: But the wonder of the Arhat's Tendon lies in the word "satisfaction".

[Newcomer reporting in, seeking protection]: To eat this stuff, you need a strong liquor that cuts like a knife down your throat, burns like fire down your stomach, and leaves a sweet aftertaste, instantly igniting boundless passion, to match it.

[Newcomer reporting in, seeking protection]: If the wine is too weak or too mild, it's like putting embroidered shoes on a fierce tiger coming down the mountain. Not only is it not beautiful, but it's also awkward and diminishes its spirit.

After sending this message, Chen Xi could almost see the wine immortal scratching his head and looking utterly bewildered.

He had researched the information about the wine from Heaven.

Most of them are fruit wines and flower wines, which emphasize elegance, longevity, and a blissful state of mind.

That's a "drink" for the gods.

In terms of potency, spiciness, the stimulating sensation that hits you right in the head, and the exhilarating feeling of turning all your worries to ashes with just one bite.

What can compare to the high-proof liquor that has been distilled and purified multiple times in the mortal world?

That was the devastating blow of industrial civilization to agricultural civilization.

really.

There was a full half-minute of silence on the other end of the screen.

[The Wine Connoisseur]: It feels like a knife down the throat...and like fire down the stomach...

[The Wine Immortal]: This... it seems there is indeed no such strong liquor in the Heavenly Court. The nectar that the Jade Emperor drinks is also the mellow and long-lasting kind; drinking too much of it only makes one feel lightheaded, but it lacks a bit of the pleasure.

[Wine Immortal]: Oh dear! Hearing what you say, my little friend, has really whetted my appetite for wine!

[Wine Immortal]: My mouth has become so bland over the past few thousand years!

[Wine Immortal]: Isn't there any wine that can match this Arhat tendon?

The time is ripe.

The time is right.

See the picture poorly.

Without hesitation, Chen Xi's fingers struck out the final trump card.

[Newcomer reporting in, seeking protection]: Although the mortal world is turbid, I do have some insights into the word "fierce".

[Newcomer reporting in, seeking protection]: I happen to have several kinds of earthly liquors called "Erguotou" and "Laobaigan". These liquors are as strong as fire and can cure all kinds of unpleasantness.

[Newcomer reporting in, seeking protection]: I wonder if you, sir... would be interested in giving it a try?

At this moment, everyone in the command center was staring at the screen.

Su Qingge pushed up her glasses, her palms slightly sweaty.

Li Guobang clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white.

back in seconds.

Almost the instant Chen Xi sent the message, a reply popped up.

[Wine Immortal]: Try it! Of course I'll try it! Hurry, hurry! My little friend, send it to me! I'll trade you a pill formula!

[Wine Immortal]: As long as it's strong enough, I'll give you any pill formula you want! Even the "Dragon and Tiger Strengthening Wine" formula for heavenly soldiers and generals to use for bathing, I'll give it to you!

Become!

Chen Xi did not send out red envelopes immediately.

He slowly put down his phone, turned his head, and looked at Li Guobang behind him.

His eyes held a hint of inquiry, as well as a sense of certainty and ease that the mission was about to be completed.

"Minister Li."

Chen Xi's voice was calm, but it couldn't hide the smug satisfaction of his strategic planning.

"Immortals want to drink."

"I want the strongest one."

"With this deal, we can not only get the formula back, but also monopolize the high-end liquor market in the Heavenly Court for a long time."

Li Guobang took a deep breath.

He turned around abruptly and yelled at the communications officer behind him.

The momentum was as if it were commanding a battle with a million soldiers, or issuing the final order for the all-out attack.

"Pass down the order!"

"Contact the Business Department and Logistics Department immediately!"

"Find me all the strongest spirits on the market!"

"Bring them all over, no matter the brand, as long as the prescription is strong enough!"

"Moutai! Wuliangye! Hengshui Laobaigan! Mendao Lv!"

The old man paused, as if he remembered something, and his voice suddenly rose, making the glass of the command room vibrate.

"besides!"

"Don't forget that—"

"Red Star Erguotou!"

"That's the wine for us workers, that's the wine for us ordinary people!"

"Let the gods in heaven taste what it means to experience the warmth of human life, and what the intensity of Chinese civilization truly is!"